Batik is a Java based toolkit for applications that want to use images in the Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format for various purposes, such as viewing, generation or manipulation.

The project's ambition is to give developers a set of core modules which can be used together or individually to support specific SVG solutions. Example modules are, SVG parsers, SVG generators and SVG DOM implementations. Another ambition for the Batik project is to make it highly extensible (for example, Batik allows the developer to handle custom SVG tags). Even though the goal of the project is to provide a set of core modules, one of the deliverables is a full fledged SVG Viewer implementation which validates the various modules and their inter-operability.

With Batik, you can manipulate SVG documents anywhere Java is available. You can also use the various Batik modules to generate, manipulate, transcode and search SVG images in your applications.

Batik makes it easy for Java based applications to deal with SVG contents. For example, using Batik's SVG generator, a Java application can very easily export its graphics in the SVG format. Using Batik's SVG processor and viewer, an application can very easily integrate SVG viewing capabilities. Another possibility is to use Batik's modules to convert SVG to various formats, such as raster images (JPEG or PNG).

Batik provides core components for handling and processing SVG files.

Scalable Vector Graphics, SVG, is a W3C Candidate Recommendation. It defines an XML grammar for rich 2D graphics which includes features such as transparency, arbitrary geometry, filter effects (shadows, lighting effects, etc...), scripting and animation.

The SVG specification can be found on the W3C site. Batik 1.0 is conformant with the November 2nd, 2000 Candidate Recommendation Specification. Note that because SVG is not a final Recommendation yet, it may still change. The Batik team will keep the implementation current with the latest specification developments.

At this time, Batik provides a good implementation for all the SVG static features, supports linking, and has some scripting support, even though dynamic modification of SVG documents is not yet available and animation is not supported.

You will find a detailed description of the set of SVG features Batik supports on the Status page.

You can get Batik on the download page.

All other libraries needed by Batik are included in the distribution. As a consequence the Batik archive is quite big, but after you downloaded it, you will not need anything else.